Configure Apache Web Server as a reverse proxy

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026
2 minute read

Semaphore
Documentation

It is common to set up a web server, such as Apache, to use as a reverse proxy to access Studio. This practice allows users to not have to enter the specific port number, obscures the URLs provided by Semaphore, and/or allows you to employ Apache integrated authentication. The following section describes how to configure Apache 2.4 on a 64-bit CentOS and RHEL 7.x deployment.

By default, CentOS 7.x and RHEL 7.x come with Apache 2.4 and a collection of modules, including mod_proxy, mod_proxy_ajp, and mod_jk. These modules can be used interchangeably to front Semaphore Workbench with Apache. Note that there are subtle differences between the modules, and that you should refer to the Apache documentation to determine the most appropriate module for your environment.

The mod_proxy method

For most deployments, the simplest approach for setting up an Apache web server as a reverse proxy is to use the mod_proxy method. After installing the mod_proxy module, use the following steps to configure your reverse proxy.

Note: This procedure assumes that Studio is installed and available at http://<my_server>:5080/.

Navigate to the /etc/httpd/conf.d directory and create a new semaphore.conf configuration file.

In the semaphore.conf file, add the following contents:

<Location /studio/>
   ProxyPass http://localhost:5080/ retry=1 acquire=3000 timeout=600 Keepalive=Off ProxyPassReverse /
</Location>

Restart Apache by issuing the following command:
```
systemctl restart httpd
```

The mod_jk method

You can also use the mod_jk method to setup an Apache web server as a reverse proxy. After installing the mod_jk module, use the following steps to configure your reverse proxy.

Note: This procedure assumes that Studio is installed and already available at http://<my_server>:5080/.

Under /etc/httpd/conf.d create a new semaphore.conf configuration file containing the following:
```
JkOptions +ForwardURICompatUnparsed
AllowEncodedSlashes NoDecode
```

Under /etc/httpd/conf.d edit uriworkermap.properties to add an entry for Studio:

# This file provides sample mappings for the example
# worker "balancer" defined in workermap.properties.
# The general syntax for this file is:
# [URL]=[Worker name]

/admin/*=balancer
/manager/*=balancer
/examples/*=balancer
/workbench/*=balancer

Restart Apache by issuing the following command:
```
systemctl restart httpd
```

The mod_proxy_ajp method

You can also use the mod_proxy_ajp method to setup an Apache web server as a reverse proxy. After installing the mod_proxy_ajp module, use the following steps to configure your reverse proxy.

Note: This procedure assume stat Studio is installed and already available at http://<my_server>:5080/.

Navigate to the following directory and create a new semaphore.conf configuration file:
```
/etc/httpd/conf.d
```

Add the following contents to the semaphore.conf file:

ProxyRequests Off
AllowEncodedSlashes NoDecode
ProxyPass /studio/ ajp://localhost:8009/ nocanon
ProxyPassReverse /studio/ ajp://localhost:8009/

Navigate to the conf/server.xml file and remove the comment tags from this line:

<!-- <connector_port="8009" protocol="AJP/1.3" redirectPort="8443" /> -->

For example:

<connector_port="8009" protocol="AJP/1.3" redirectPort="8443" >

Restart Apache by issuing the following command:
```
systemctl restart httpd
```

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